City heap more misery on Bohs

Bohemians 1 Derry City 2

TUSSLE: Bohemians’ Dinny Corcoran in action against Conor McDermott of Derry City during the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match at Dalymount Park last night. Pic: Sportsfile

The Dalymount Roar seems to have lost its voice as, once again, Bohemians failed to make anything of their home advantage and slipped to another defeat to their bogey side, Derry City.

Bohs will be glad of the fact that they don't have to face Kenny Shiels' side again in the league until the end of August, as last night's 2-1 win for Derry was the ninth win from nine league games against Bohs for Shiels in his time as City boss.

Tempers flared at the end, security staff called in to separate the two camps as the home club's fans and players didn't appreciate the celebrations of Ronan Curtis, making his last appearance for City ahead of his move to Portsmouth, and sanctions could follow those scuffles.

Keith Long's side remain clear of the bottom two but their home form, which hurt them again last night, is the biggest puzzle of all; just two goals scored in their last six home games and just one win in ten at Dalymount Park since that dramatic opening-night defeat of Shamrock Rovers.

And they deserved very little from last night's tussle with Derry as a tired-looking Bohs side failed to muster up a single attempt on Ger Doherty's goal before sub JJ Lunney nicked a late goal.

A frustrated Bohs boss Keith Long. Pic: Sportsfile

Derry, playing in their second away game in a week, looked more than at home in the Phibsboro venue as this win keeps them safely in the top four.

The opening phase of the game was awful stuff, all kick and rush on a dry pitch, and it was the first bit of quality inn the match, on 22 minutes, which led to the opening goal.

Aaron McEneff looked up and threaded through a fine pass for Rory Hale, and while the Belfast boy still had work to do, he did it well to round keeper Shane Supple and slide home his first goal since April.

Respond

This Bohs team tends to respond well once they go a goal down but they fell to another goal within three minutes.

The Gypsies failed to clear a corner, Hale put the ball into the box and Rory Patterson was on hand to put the ball past Shane Supple in the Bohs goal.

The home side offered nothing much in attack, with Dylan Watts booked for a dive in the box by ref Graham Kelly on 37 minutes. In the 40th minute Eoghan Stokes worked his way into a dangerous position but the excellent Eoin Toal cut out the danger.

The only time Derry keeper Doherty was any way worried was in first half injury time when a Derek Pender shot from distance had power but was not on target.

Bohs boss Long reacted to that sub-par display, bringing on Kevin Devaney for the second half and there was briefly some life in the home side.

Ward's cross into the box was met by the head of Ian Morris but the effort was off-target and young left-back Paddy Kirk did well to get a cross in, while at the other end McEneff should have made it 3-0 with a shot on the hour mark.

Sub Danny Grant, who had a busy Friday having sat his Leaving Cert earlier that day, looked good when he came off the bench but Derry remained in control, the impressive McEneff setting up a chance on 80 minutes for Ronan Hale.

An 85th-minute strike from sub Lunney did, eventually get past Doherty in the City goal but it was too little and too late from the home side who now face a daunting trip to champions Cork City.